Opals legend Lauren Jackson has made history as the first Australian player to be inducted into the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The seven-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player was announced among 16 iconic names in the class of 2021, and joins Lindsay Gaze (2015 inductee as a coach) as the only Aussies to earn the honour.
"I am extremely honoured and humbled," Jackson said in a statement to Basketball Australia.
"To be recognised alongside such esteemed members of the basketball fraternity in the Class of 2021 is mind-blowing, and then the prospect of being inducted into the prestigious Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with legends and pioneers of our sport is just surreal.
"Growing up I could only have dreamt of having the career that I have had, and I am thankful every day for the experiences and opportunities that basketball has given me.
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"I'm just a girl from country NSW who worked hard to be the best I could be and if that inspires others to follow in my footsteps and chase their own goals and aspirations, then that's the most enriching Award I can receive.
"To everyone who has played a role in my life and basketball career to date, all I can say is 'thank you' from the bottom of my heart; this Hall of Fame honour is as much yours as it is mine."
Jackson and the Hall of Fame class of 2021 will be enshrined in Massachusetts in an official event on September 11 later this year.
"Lauren is Australia's greatest ever basketballer and a true pioneer of women's sport," Basketball Australia interim Chairman John Carey said.
"No other Australian basketballer has achieved the level of success that Lauren has, and her pending induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame is a reflection of her incredible accomplishments.
"The significance of this recognition cannot be understated, it's a landmark day for Australian sport, and it's only fitting that Lauren is set to become the first Australian athlete to be inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame."
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Lauren Jackson's impressive basketball resume
– Seven-time WNBA All-Star (2001-2003, 2005-2007, 2009)
– Three-time WNBA MVP (2003, 2007, 2010)
– Two-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm (2004, 2010)
– WNBA Finals MVP (2010)
– WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in rebounding (2007)
– WNBA Scoring Champion (2003, 2004, 2007)
– WNBA's All-Decade Team (2006)
– Top 20 Players in the WNBA's 20-year history in 2016
– Five-time WNBL All-Star (1999-2004)
– Four-time WNBL MVP (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004)
– Four-time WNBL Grand Final MVP (2002, 2003, 2006, 2010)
– Three-time Olympic silver medalist (2000, 2004, 2008)
– No. 15 jersey retired by Seattle Storm
– Australian Basketball Hall of Fame (2019)
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